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D. E. DUTROW.

)TRIOYGLE. No. 295,861. Patented Mar. 25, 1884. i

MTED STATES PATENT Orrrcn.

DAVID E. DUTROWV, OF WVASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONEHALF TO CHARLES WV. BREADY, OF ROOKVILLE, MARYLAND.

TRICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 295,861, dated March 25, 1884.

Application filed December 26; 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, DAVID E. DUTROW, a citizen of the United States, residing at VVashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tricycles, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in tricyeles and in the propulsion of other land or water conveyances.

The object of my invention is to produce a tricycle or other land conveyance which will be more easily propelled, more simple in its 1 parts, and at the same time provide a vehicle which will be specially adapted for the use of ladies and misses; and to this end my invention consists in connecting the crank-axle of the machine to bent or bell-crank levers by 29 means of pivoted links, said levers being extended to form the operating-treadles, or the treadle-bars being connected to the bell-crank levers so as to rock them back and forth by a vertical movement of the treadles, and thus propel the machine.

My invention consists, further, in certain details of construction, which will be fully described hereinafter, and pointed out in the claims.

0 Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of my device, with one wheel removed toshow more clearly the bell-crank levers as connected to the axle of the machine. Fig.2 is a similar view, showing the operating-levers as connected to sprocketwvheels, which in turn are connected to sprocket-wheels on the main axle of the machine by means of a sprocketchain. Fig. 3 is a side view of a modification, in which the seat is pivoted and connected to 0 the operating-levers by means of pivoted links or bars. Fig. 4 is a side view of my machine, which is provided with a top or cover. Fig. 5 is a top View of a portion of the operating mechanism connected to crank-wheels for op- 5 crating a sprocketwheel. Fig. 6 is a top or plan view of the frame of the-machine on a reduced scale. Fig. 7is a side view of the bell-crank lever and treadle. Fig. 8 is a top viewof bell'crank lever and treadle secured will more fully appear.

thereto. Fig. 9 is a top and side view of the shield. Fig. 10 is a sectional view, showing the bearings of the pivots of the bell-crank levers. a

A are the main wheels of the machine, mounted on an axle and connected to the small piv- 5 5 oted or steering wheel B by means of the framework O, on which the seat Dis supported.

-The frame of the machine is made of anysuitable material, bar or tube metal being preferrcd, and is contracted or pointed at one end and connected in a pivotal manner to the yoke E of the wheel B. The frame 0 is bent down or depressed at a point between the large and small wheels, so as to admit of the ready access of the rider to or from the seat of the machine. The frame 0 gradually widens as it approaches the axle of the wheels A, to which it is secured in any suitable or convenient manner, so as to admit of the free rotation of the axle within the bearings of the frame, the 0 widened ends of the frame 0 being bent down to form a bearing for the operating-levers, as The rear ends of the frame 0 are connected to the depressed portion of the frame at a by means of bars or 7 reaches F. This forms a strong and substantial frame for the operating parts and to support the rider and other load which may be put upon the machine.

To the rear end of the frame 0, or :at any convenient point, "are pivoted the treadlelevers G, which are by preference of the form shown in Figs. 1 and 7, and of practically a bell-crank form, having one of the arms elongated to form foot-treadles, which project for- 8 5 ward so as to be within easy reach of the feet of the operator. The bell-crank levers and treadle portions may be made in two parts, the rear ends of the treadle-bearings being rigidly connected to an arm, I), projecting from 0 the bell-crank lever, as shown in Fig. 8, while the inner ends of the arms I) are supported in abracket or bar, B, as shown in Fig. 10. The upper ends of the bell-crank levers are connected to cranks 0, formed on the axle H, by means of the bars or pitmen cl, which are pivotally connectedto the upwardly-projecting ends of the bell-crank levers and to the cranks c of the axle. It will be noticed that by working the treadles up and down in practically a vertical line the upwardly-projecting end of the bell-crank lever is thrown back and forth in practically a horizontal line, thus imparting to the crank-axle on which the machine is suspended the requisite rotary motion through the medium of the pitmen d.

I are spiral springs secured to the under side of the frame 0 and to the treadle-levers, which assist in returning the ends of the treadlelevers to an elevated position, ready to be depressed again by the feet of the rider. These springs may be of the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or a coiled spring may be used, which is incased in a drum, as shown at f in Fig. 4. Any suitable or desirable form of spring may be used, however, and may be made of sufficient power or strength to assist in raising the leg of the operator. By this construction a very simple and efficient means of propelling the vehicle is provided, and by having the treadle-levers adapted to be worked in vertical lines or directions ladies can ride and operate the machine without exposing their lower limbs to any great extent.

As shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, a seat may be placed on the rear end of the machine,

- so that two persons may ride in the vehicle,

and the treadle-levers may have secured thereto adjustable and removable extensions 0, so that the person occupying the rear seat can, by placing his or her'feet 011' the extensions 6, assist in propelling the vehicle. This seat (shown in dotted lines) may be adapted to be turned so that both riders will face in the same direction and the rear rider assist in propelling the vehicle by placing his feet on the steps or foot-rests m of the levers G. This rear seat is adapted to be removed and a box inserted in ways formed in the frame. By this means mail-matter can be gathered and deposited in the post-office in wet or inclement weather without injury to the same, while for commercial purposes my machine can be used to advantage in delivering packages.

The seat or chair D (shown in Figs. 1 and 2) is a revolving one and adapted to be raised or lowered by means of the screw 9, working in a screw-plate, h, secured to elliptical or spring-like bars i, which are attached to the frame, and by which means the seat can be adjusted so that it can, be adapted to persons of different size. The chair is held in a rigid position and kept from turning by means of a bolt, 70, which passes through the seat of the chair, and an extension, I, of the screwplate a. I

In Fig. 2 I have shown a modification, and instead of connecting the bell-crank levers or treadles direct to the axle of the machine by the rods or pitmen (Z, I connect the said pitmen to crank-arms u on wheels K, which are secured to the shaft L, mounted in bearings on the reach F. To the shaft L and axle His secured one or more sprocket-wheels, 0, over which a sprocket chain or chains, p, pass to impart rotary motion from the shaft L 'to the axle 1-1. As before stated, the wheel Bis pivoted to the frame 0 by means of the yoke E,

the said yoke being connected to a vertical rod, M, by means of levers and bars, so that the rider by turning the rod M can turn the direction of the wheel 13 to the right or left, and thus guide the machine.

In Fig. 3 I have shown the seat- D pivoted in bearings r on the frame 0, so that it can be rocked back and forth, and is connected to the levers G by means of bars S S and pivoted levers if, so that by rocking the chair back and forth motion will be imparted to the machine.

I P are hand-levers (only one shown) pivoted to the frame 0 and connected to the upper ends of the bell-crank levers by means of the rods a, so that by moving the levers back and forth by hand motion can be imparted to the machine.

In Fig. 9 I have shown in side elevation and in cross-section a shield,which is secured to the frame in front of the treadles, to cover and protect the feet and lower extremities of the rider. This shield is designed to be hinged to the frame so it can be folded back out of the way to allow free access to and from the seat.

A screen of woven fabric can be placed around the sides and ends of the machine and extend downward as far as the point of greatest depression of the levers, so as to fully protectthe feet and lower extremities of the rider.

Various and numerous modifications maybe resorted to to connect the bell-crank levers with the axle, and various modifications in devices for operating the bell-crank levers may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I do not wish to limit myself in the application of bell-crank levers and treadles to tricycles and other land conveyances, as the same may be applied to the propulsion of boats, or as a power for driving machinery of various kinds.

The treadles may be connected to abent levcr, 4,which is pivoted to the frame 0 at 5 by a rod or bar, 6, and in this way the machine can be propelled by the hands of the operator, or the hands made to assist the feet inworking the treadles.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. A motor for tricycles, 820., consisting of one or more bell-crank levers pivoted to the rear portion of the frame of the machine and back of the axle of the main driving-wheels, connected at one end to the axle or other driv ing mechanism, substantially such as described, by means of pitmen, and at the other end to rection by the motion of the feet of the operator, as set forth.

2. As a means for propelling tricycles, one

treadles adapted to be moved in a vertical dior more bent or bell-crank levers pivoted to the rear portion of the frame of the machine and back of the axle of the main drivingwheels, connected at one end to the axle of the machine by means of pitinen, and the other or free ends of thebell-crank lever or levers extended forward within reach of the rider to form treadles by which the machine isopervtreadles as set forth.

4. In a tricycle, the levers G, providedwith the extensions 0 or foot-rests m, in combination with a supplemental seat, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a tricycle, the bell-crank levers provided with the treadle-extensions, connected at their upper ends to the axle or other driving mechanism by means of pitmen, in con1- bination with springs I, as and for the purpose set forth,

' 6. The combination of the bell-crank levers provided with treadles and connected to the axle, as described, with the rods u and handlevers P P.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DAVID E. DUIROW.

Witnesses:

OCTAVIUS KNIGHT, L. W. SINSABAUGH. 

